A voice controlled assistant has a housing to hold one or more microphones, one or more speakers, and various computing components. The housing has an elongated cylindrical body extending along a center axis between a base end and a top end. The microphone(s) are mounted in the top end and the speaker(s) are mounted proximal to the base end. The microphone(s) and speaker(s) are coaxially aligned along the center axis. The speaker(s) are oriented to output sound directionally toward the base end and opposite to the microphone(s) in the top end. The sound may then be redirected in a radial outward direction from the center axis at the base end so that the sound is output symmetric to, and equidistance from, the microphone(s).

A monitor speaker assembly for includes a drum shell. A plurality of first lugs is each of the first lugs is coupled to the drum shell. A mesh screen is attachable to the drum shell and the mesh screen is comprised of a fluid permeable material to pass sound through the mesh screen. A speaker is disposed within the drum shell to emit audible sounds outwardly from the drum shell. A receiver is coupled to the drum shell and a tripod is insertable into the receiver on the drum shell thereby facilitating the drum shell to elevated. In this way the drum shell can direct the speaker toward a drummer thereby facilitating the drummer to hear audible sounds emitted by the speaker.

Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.

A system and a method for outputting sound where one or more first sound outputting units are identified and other, second, sound outputting units define a sound delay in accordance with the relative positions between each sound outputting unit and the first sound outputting unit(s). Microphones may be added to e.g. determine the amount and positions of persons.

The system may also use Intelligent cameras to determine number of people their position the room face direction and age distribution in order optimize audio level and equalisation of the frequency response—like in a church with many elder people or in a young audience at a live concert.

A notification control apparatus (2000) acquires video data or audio data for a plurality of persons (10) (a human group (40)) who have a conversation within a predetermined distance with each other in a surveillance area. The notification control apparatus (2000) determines whether or not the human group (40) is in a state suitable for receiving a notification using the acquired data. When the human group (40) is in the state suitable for receiving the notification, the notification control apparatus (2000) issues a predetermined notification.

A speaker device incorporating acoustic meta materials for sound diffraction reduction wherein the meta materials have a plurality of channels to dampen sound waves. Meta materials are applied to the speaker unit, serve as structural components of a speaker baffle, waveguide, and/or cone. The meta materials have openings in them to permit sound waves to enter and positioned at the edges of the speaker cabinet to prevent sound waves from re-radiating and interfering with the sound waves intended for the listener.

An ultrasonic speaker comprises a case that has an opened top surface and includes a plurality of protrusions protruding inward on an inner side surface of the case, a piezoelectric element fixed to a bottom surface in the case, and a substrate that is inserted in the case and placed on upper surfaces of the plurality of protrusions.

Implementations of the subject technology provide for audio integration of portable electronic devices into enclosed environments. A portable electronic device may be carried, by a user, into an enclosed environment, such as into an enclosure of a building, a room, or other apparatus. One or more remote speakers may be disposed in the enclosed environment. The remote speaker(s) may be operated in cooperation with the portable electronic device to spatially coordinate audio output from the remote speaker(s) with video content displayed by the portable electronic device.

Implementations of the subject technology provide occupant-based audio for enclosed environments. For example, an apparatus having an enclosure and one or more speakers may determine a location and/or an identity of an occupant within an enclosed environment defined by the enclosure, and operate the one or more speakers to provide audio output to the location of the occupant. The apparatus may also operate the one or more speakers to reduce the audio output to one or more other locations within the enclosure, such as to one or more non-occupant locations and/or to one or more locations of one or more other occupants. The audio output may be occupant-specific audio output, such as a personalized notifications, in one or more implementations.

A sound apparatus may include a vibration member, a housing configured to cover a rear surface of the vibration member, and a vibration apparatus including one or more vibration devices configured to vibrate the vibration member. The vibration member may include a non-planar structure.